At lunch today, I was sat with three fellow, well(ish) respected, middle aged Arrsers when the subject of age came up. The eldest (45) is an advert for the life preserving qualities of what excellent living and obscene amounts of cash can do for you, the two middle are examples of what a life of public service can do to 40 year olds (I know I wear cords and a bfo jumper, but sod it, they're comfy), but the youngest, a spritely youth of 37 looked like Bernard Bresslaw's elder brother.... the three of us were all horrified to discover how young he was, and curious to why he looked so.... knackered. (Seriously, what have you done to look so lived in?)

So, my question is this; when did you start noticing it was all going downhill?

At lunch today, I was sat with three fellow, well(ish) respected, middle aged Arrsers when the subject of age came up. The eldest (45) is an advert for the life preserving qualities of what excellent living and obscene amounts of cash can do for you, the two middle are examples of what a life of public service can do to 40 year olds (I know I wear cords and a bfo jumper, but sod it, they're comfy), but the youngest, a spritely youth of 37 looked like Bernard Bresslaw's elder brother.... the three of us were all horrified to discover how young he was, and curious to why he looked so.... knackered. (Seriously, what have you done to look so lived in?)

So, my question is this; when did you start noticing it was all going downhill?

48. After my last bike accident. Not only the ridiculous time it took to heal (well, mostly heal) and the fact that it was down to crap reactions that led to the spill in the first place. Yup, life now belongs to another generation and all I have is work and beer.

45. Stopped smoking, started scoffing, put on 2inches around the waist for the first time since I was 17. Next up, the indigestion hit and being a roughtie toughtie ex squaddie I suffered it bravely before finally conceding a visit to the Doc who put it right with a simple daily capsule of some wonderfully effective drug. The result? Another 2 inches on the waistline because suddenly there was no penalty to eating and drinking. These days, I realize there's only one way to go and I'm trying to grow old disgracefully.

45. Stopped smoking, started scoffing, put on 2inches around the waist for the first time since I was 17. Next up, the indigestion hit and being a roughtie toughtie ex squaddie I suffered it bravely before finally conceding a visit to the Doc who put it right with a simple daily capsule of some wonderfully effective drug. The result? Another 2 inches on the waistline because suddenly there was no penalty to eating and drinking. These days, I realize there's only one way to go and I'm trying to grow old disgracefully.

Considering I spent my younger years totally pished, smoking, what have you, Im amazed to find that I apparently look way younger than my 40 years. My female friend tells me all the time, her ex thought I was younger than him, he was 28....and a young 19 year old student chatted me up when I did the door of a private party. Her face was a picture when I told her I was 40.....why oh why oh feckin why did I do that???

Wandered off to the kitchen, made a pot of tea, brought tray with tea and stuff back in, sat down (oof, my knees), drunk tea and said "Oooh, that's lovely". I'm on my own, apart from the dog.... so talking to myself and complimenting my own brew. Yeah, it's all downhill...